Jacob Staszewski, left, talks to several high school students on Thursday, Oct. 3, about some of the work done at Arconic Davenport Works. More than 200 area students gathered at the Arconic Learning Center to hear about skilled trades jobs available in the Quad Cities. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Jacob Staszewski says he’s on a great career path. For the past year or so, that path has led him to a full-time apprenticeship at Arconic Davenport Works. The 19-year-old LeClaire man got to share a bit of his career path and journey on Thursday, Oct. 3, with hundreds of area high school students who […]
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Jacob Staszewski says he’s on a great career path. For the past year or so, that path has led him to a full-time apprenticeship at Arconic Davenport Works.The 19-year-old LeClaire man got to share a bit of his career path and journey on Thursday, Oct. 3, with hundreds of area high school students who might be interested in following in his footsteps at Arconic’s aluminum plant in Riverdale.
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Scott Mueller, right, an Arconic mechanic, helps students.
Jacob Staszewski, left, shows a student some of the items made at Arconic Davenport Works in Riverdale.
Area high school students look over one of the tables at Arconic Davenport Works on Thursday, Oct. 3, during an event to showcase skilled trades jobs. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Keli Price, right, human resources director at Arconic Davenport Works, talks with students on Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Arconic Learning Center. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The event, held at the Arconic Learning Center located at 4900 State St., Riverdale, featured demonstrations, hands-on activities and visits with Arconic workers.
Area high school students look over one of the tables at Arconic Davenport Works on Thursday, Oct. 3, during an event to showcase skilled trades jobs. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Here are some of the items on display on Thursday.
“It’s one of the best things that has happened to me. … I want to show them some of the jobs that are available,” Mr. Staszewski said about some of the work.The apprentice was one of about 40 Arconic workers who told some 220 Quad Cities area high school students about jobs in the skilled trades. The students came from Edison Academy in Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley High School, North Scott High School, Bettendorf High School, Moline High School, Davenport West High School and Davenport Central High School to hear about skilled trades positions available at Arconic.The event, held at the Arconic Learning Center located at 4900 State St., Riverdale, featured demonstrations, hands-on activities and visits with Arconic workers. The workers spoke about many different jobs available including electrical engineering, machinists, truck repairs, IT, human resources, production, roll grinders and others. (Arconic has held similar events in the past.)“I hope the students discover you can have a very nice career going this route. … Every job here is a good job,” said Jake Beachler, an electrician at Arconic and president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1379 union.Mr. Beachler was one of many Arconic workers showing the high school students some of the skilled jobs available and fielding lots of questions. Some of the most popular questions posed by students included: What do you do all day? How much do you make? Do you like your job?“We’re all here presenting our (job) specialties and trying to give the students a clear picture of what we do,” said Scott Mueller, an Arconic mechanic, who was in charge of one of the most popular stops at the Arconic Learning Center – the general mechanics table.That table was the center of attention for much of the day as students gathered around, saw some tools of the trade and got to hear a little about the life of a mechanic at Arconic.One of those students was Conner Sawvell, 18, of the Edison Academy. He is interested in being a mechanic and liked what he saw and heard at Thursday’s introduction to the skills trades.“I’m just looking around, looking at things I’m interested in. … This has been good for me,” he said.Bettendorf High School student Ethan Mayer, 17, hopes to be an electrician. He visited the tables and talked with those working in the electrical trades.“I just like learning about new things. … This is a really good event,” he said.In addition to showing the students various career paths and jobs that may be available in the future, Thursday’s event was also an opportunity for Arconic to advertise some of the current career opportunities with the company.According to information presented to students on Thursday, here are some of the jobs available at Arconic as of Sept. 1. (Each job has a $5,000 signing bonus.)
Truck repair mechanic.
Maintenance roll grinder.
Maintenance machinist.
General mechanic.
Industrial electrician.
For more information on Arconic jobs, go here.Keli Price, the plant’s human resources director, told the students about some of those jobs, and why many people work at the company. She told the students that “the next phase of your lives” could be with Arconic because the company offers jobs with great pay, benefits and a retirement plan.Mr. Staszewski was also showing students some of the jobs available at the company. At his work table, he had four computer monitors that displayed a software program used to help make different items at Arconic.“I show them what we can make. … I hope they get something from this,” he added.
